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Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

Our experienced attorneys help clients get their SSDI benefits

You have paid into Social Security all your working life. When you need benefits, the Government tries to stop you from collecting anything. It doesn't seem fair. At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we know how to fight for your benefits. Call us at 1-866-275-4563 now if you have been turned down or you are preparing a new claim.

The Social Security Administration rejects the vast majority of initial Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claims. It's important not to give up if your claim was denied. Our experienced attorneys reverse the government's decision in the majority of cases we handle.

SSDI benefits are available to people who have worked long enough (typically five out of the last 10 years) and have a medical condition or impairment that is expected to last at least a year or result in death. Your condition must be severe enough that you are unable to perform your job or any other type of gainful activity.

How an SSDI claim gets rejected

In some cases, your claim may be rejected because you have not provided enough information. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is looking for details about an applicant's medical condition or disability, which includes medical records, as well as the applicant's work history. By providing a list of doctors who treated you and the medication you've been prescribed, you can improve your chances of getting approved. At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we can help you gather the right information so you are prepared to win your case.

Some applicants simply give up after their initial SSDI claim is rejected. The reality is that over two thirds of initial claims are rejected. As you "appeal," or have your case heard before different administrators, your chances of success improve. With an experienced SSDI attorney on your side, your odds of getting a positive result is even better than trying to argue your case by yourself or with an inexperienced lawyer.

You may need to appeal one or more times before your SSDI claim is approved. Applicants typically submit their claim for a review by a disability examiner. If the claim is rejected (which is common), you can ask Social Security Administration for a "reconsideration." The appeals process can continue and move through several more stages.

Stages in an SSDI appeal

The following list illustrates the levels of appeal you may see with an SSDI claim:

Initial determination - Your original claim is reviewed and either approved or rejected by a disability examiner.

Reconsideration - A disability examiner (someone who did not participate in the initial determination) "reconsiders" your claim.

Administrative Law Judge - An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) considers your claim after hearing from you or your attorney.

Appeals Council - A body that reviews the ALJ's decision without hearing from you or your attorney.

Federal Courts - You can take your claim outside of the Social Security system and bring it before a Federal Court. You can potentially appeal all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Bangor Office

Our law firm has a staff of 12 attorneys and over 50 legal professionals ready to assist you just as we have more than 24,000 Mainers in our 40 years of practice. Phone our offices today and get one of our teams of attorneys and case managers working on your claim. We can meet with you at one of our six conveniently located offices in Sanford, Biddeford, Portland, Lewiston, Augusta and Bangor, your home, the hospital, or another convenient location of your choice.

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Joe Bornstein®, The Lawyer You Need to Know®, 1-800-CALL-JOE®, Maine Lawyers Working for Maine People® and, The greatest compliment a client can give us is the referral of a loved one or friend. Thank you for your trust in us.® are all federally registered trademarks of The Law Offices of Joseph L. Bornstein.